Chapter 21: Ripples in the Dark

The chamber was silent after the encounter, the air still thick with dark energy. Lahsiv stood before the black crystal, his mind buzzing with the remnants of the battle he had just endured. His control over the Abyss had deepened, but it had also revealed just how vast and dangerous the path before him truly was. The voice’s parting words echoed in his mind: The Abyss does not forget.

Reya watched him closely, her expression guarded. Though she hadn’t seen the battle that had taken place within the Abyss’s domain, she could sense the shift in Lahsiv. He had returned stronger, more in control of the shadows that seemed to bend to his will. But there was something darker about him now, something she couldn’t quite place.

“You survived,” she repeated, breaking the silence. “What did you see?”

Lahsiv turned to face her, his expression cold and unreadable. “The Abyss tested me. I passed.”

Reya narrowed her eyes. “And the power? Did it give you more?”

Lahsiv didn’t answer right away. He knew Reya was fishing for information, trying to gauge how much he had gained from the experience. She had brought him here expecting to uncover something for herself, but now that she saw the extent of the danger and the power at play, she was more cautious.

“I got what I needed,” Lahsiv said finally, his voice clipped. “The Abyss always gives—if you’re willing to pay the price.”

Reya’s expression hardened, but she nodded. “Good. We’ll need that power soon. Things are changing in the Academy. Valen’s been gathering allies, and the instructors have been watching us more closely. Whatever’s happening, it’s bigger than just the trials.”

Lahsiv’s eyes narrowed. He had sensed it too—the way the instructors, especially Kaelor, had become more interested in the movements of the top students. It wasn’t just about competition anymore. There were deeper forces at play, and Lahsiv suspected that the Academy was hiding far more than just knowledge about the Abyss.

“We need to be careful,” Reya continued. “The others are getting suspicious, especially after today. If they find out how deep your connection to the Abyss runs, they’ll come after you. And not just the students.”

Lahsiv smirked. “Let them come. They’ll regret it.”

But Reya’s warning lingered in his mind. The power he had gained from the Abyss had elevated him, but it had also made him a target. Valen, Reya, and the other top students would soon realize that he was no longer just a competitor—he was a threat. And the Academy itself, with its strict control over knowledge and power, would not allow someone like him to rise without challenge.

He couldn’t afford to be complacent.

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That night, Lahsiv returned to his quarters in the Academy, his thoughts racing as he tried to piece together the growing web of intrigue around him. The black crystal, the hidden chamber, the shadowed man who had offered him guidance—it all pointed to a deeper mystery, one that extended beyond the Academy’s walls.

He knew there were other forces at work. The man from the Abyss had hinted at it. There were factions, organizations, and powers that sought to control the Abyss’s energy. If they discovered what Lahsiv had gained, they would undoubtedly come for him.

Sitting by the window, Lahsiv stared out at the moonlit Academy grounds, lost in thought. He could feel the shadows shifting around him, responding to his mood. His connection to the Abyss had grown stronger since the trial, and with it, his mastery over Dark Karma had become more precise. But with every step forward, the pull of the Abyss became more seductive—and more dangerous.

The Abyss does not forget.

The voice’s warning was clear. The power Lahsiv now wielded came with a price, and if he wasn’t careful, he would lose more than just his humanity. The Abyss had chosen him, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t consume him if he faltered.

A soft knock at his door broke his reverie. Lahsiv’s eyes flicked toward the entrance, his senses on high alert. He hadn’t been expecting visitors, and after today’s events, he was more cautious than ever.

“Enter,” he said coldly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

The door creaked open, and Elira stepped inside. She was tense, her usually calm demeanor replaced by a sense of urgency. Lahsiv hadn’t seen her since before the Abyssal trial, and he immediately sensed something was wrong.

“Elira,” Lahsiv said, standing. “What is it?”

She closed the door behind her, her eyes darting around the room before settling on him. “We need to talk. Now.”

Lahsiv’s expression remained impassive, but he gestured for her to continue.

“It’s Valen,” she said, her voice low but intense. “He’s been talking to some of the instructors. I overheard them earlier. They’re planning something—something big.”

Lahsiv narrowed his eyes. “Go on.”

“They’re watching the top students more closely now,” Elira explained. “Valen’s been trying to convince the instructors that you’re a threat. He’s telling them that you’ve been using forbidden techniques, drawing on powers that are too dangerous for any one person to wield. He’s rallying them against you.”

Lahsiv clenched his fists. He had expected Valen to move against him eventually, but this was sooner than he had anticipated. If the instructors believed that Lahsiv had gone beyond the boundaries of what the Academy allowed, they could act against him—and that would complicate things significantly.

“He’s building a group,” Elira continued, her voice filled with concern. “They’re planning to isolate you, to take you down before you can rise any higher.”

Lahsiv’s mind raced. Valen was using the Academy’s rules against him, trying to frame Lahsiv’s growing power as a danger to everyone around him. It was a smart move—turning the instructors into weapons against him—but it wouldn’t be enough. Lahsiv had come too far to be stopped by some petty schemes.

“I see,” Lahsiv said quietly. “Valen thinks he can control the situation, but he doesn’t understand what he’s dealing with.”

Elira nodded, her eyes wide. “You need to act, Lahsiv. If they move against you, they won’t just be trying to discredit you. They’ll come for your life.”

Lahsiv remained calm, though inside, his anger simmered. Valen was becoming more than just an annoyance—he was a threat that needed to be dealt with. But Lahsiv couldn’t afford to act recklessly. He needed to be smart, to strike when the time was right.

“Thank you for the warning,” Lahsiv said, his voice steady. “You’ve done well, Elira.”

She hesitated for a moment, then spoke again, her voice quieter. “What are you going to do?”

Lahsiv’s gaze darkened, his mind already formulating a plan. “I’ll deal with Valen. And anyone else who stands in my way.”

Elira swallowed hard, sensing the cold determination in his voice. She nodded, though her worry was clear. “Just… be careful. There’s more going on than we know.”

Lahsiv turned away, staring out the window again. “I’m always careful.”

As Elira left, Lahsiv stood alone in the quiet of his room, the weight of what was to come pressing down on him. Valen’s move against him was the first of many, and it was clear now that the Academy was no longer a place where the strongest simply rose to the top. There were hidden forces, deeper schemes at play—ones that Lahsiv would have to unravel if he wanted to survive.

He would need to act soon. But more than that, he would need to uncover the full extent of the secrets the Academy had hidden, the ones tied to the Abyss and the forbidden powers it offered. His enemies were closing in, and if he wanted to rise above them, he would need more than just strength.

He would need to master the Abyss completely.

And for that, he would need to descend even further into its depths.